“How do you know all that?”
Before Logan could answer, Max cut in. “Because he’s been here before and read it on one of the many old tourist info posters.”
Logan was about to retort when he noticed how empty it was. “Wait, where is everyone?” The last time he’d been here—admittedly a couple of years ago, this area had been where everyone stayed.
Max sighed and led them over to the start of some steps. “We’ve relocated to the underground lake. In light of what happened, we thought it better to move underground a bit. That way if anyone comes poking around up top, they won’t hear us.”
“Isn’t that harder to defend?” Logan didn’t like going underground. Never had. He only used the Tube because it was a necessity.
“Yes and no,” Max answered. “It’s smaller and there’s only one way into it, so we can pick them off easier. But yeah, there’s no escape from down there.”
“Our scent’s all over the entrance though,” Logan said, uneasy.
“We’re due rain any time now, didn’t you smell it out there?”
“That’s handy.”
“It is. But if it wasn’t forecast, I’d have met you at the turning and taken you through the forest to the other entrance we made.” She gave him a look that said,I’m not stupid.
“Fair enough.”
She led them down the stone steps, holding onto the rail.
Logan was tempted to offer her assistance, worried about her falling, but he had a feeling she’d bite his hand off if he did.
“Sadie and the others have already left,” she said softly, as though knowing this wasn’t the news they wanted.
“What?” Cole’s voice echoed loudly, and everyone winced. “Sorry, but what do you mean they’ve already gone? We can’t have been more than a few hours behind them.” The despair in his tone pulled at Logan’s heart, but there was nothing he could do.
“The guys from up north arrived sooner than we were expecting, and in light of what happened at the cottage, we thought it too risky to have that many people waiting around.”
Made sense.
Even so, it sucked for Cole.
When they reached the bottom of the steps, Max led them into a medium-sized cavern. A couple of lamps gave off a warm glow, illuminating the space, but Logan would hardly describe it as inviting.
She turned, pulled something out of her back pocket and handed it to Cole. “Your mum and dad asked me to give you this.”
“Thank you.” Cole wandered off a little way to read it, squinting in the dim light, leaving Logan alone with Max.
As soon as Cole was out of earshot, Max whispered, “He’s running a fever.”
“I know. They shot him.” Logan patted his shoulder, indicating where the bullet had hit Cole. “It only grazed him, but we had nothing to clean it properly. And I think he was scratched or bitten on his leg. I’m not sure.” He sighed and glanced around them at the deserted space. “I was hoping he might get a bit of medical attention when we got here but...” He waved a hand around.
Max snorted and raised an eyebrow. “Lucky for you I’m a nurse then.”
“Fuck, sorry.” Logan felt instantly ashamed. “I shouldn’t have assumed.”
“No, you shouldn’t, but you’ve had a shit few hours. I’ll let you off.” She led Logan over to the far side of the cavern where boxes were piled haphazardly. “We moved in a hurry. It’s not normally so disorganised.” After rifling through a couple, she sighed and straightened, rubbing her lower back. “Of course it’s in the box on the bottom.” Glancing at Logan, she patted her belly. “I would bend down and get it, but I really don’t want to. Would you?”
“Yeah, course.” Logan rushed to move the boxes on top before she changed her mind. Putting the smaller boxes to one side, he opened the big one on the bottom and looked back at Max. “What am I looking for?”
Peering over his shoulder, Max pointed out what supplies to get out. Logan retrieved them all and stood, setting them on a nearby rickety table.
“Don’t take this the wrong way—I know you’re more than capable of looking after yourself—but why are you here on your own?” He’d taken a step back as he’d spoken; Max grinned at him.
“Relax. I’m not going to snap at you.” She pulled one of the few chairs closer and sat. Logan did the same. “My husband should’ve been here, but our alpha called an emergency pack meeting. Probably regarding your escapee over there by the sounds of it.”
